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Samsung SyncMaster 192MP LCD Review

Once again, we'll look at the vital statistics of the 192MP to see how it stacks up against others in the market. These are the things you need to know about an LCD monitor.

Pixel Pitch: 0.294mm – This pixel pitch is pretty much right on the money for a 19" LCD at 1280x1024 native resolution. Looks sharp, and its pretty much the top quality a 19" can have.Brightness: 250cd/m2 – At 250cd/m2, the 192MP is a bit less then the 173P and the 172X, but still allows for better then average brightness, clarity and adaptability.Contrast Ratio: 750:1 – At an INCREDIBLE 750:1 contrast ratio, this monitor takes the top ranking compared to the other two, and is absolutely key for its HDTV performance.Viewing Angle: 170° / 170° - This refers to the viewing angle from side-on and top-down. Again the 192MP shines with an impressively large viewing area.Response Time: 25ms - Though a bit lacking in response time, this monitor really wasn't gamer-oriented to begin with. Though the monitor will ghost because of this, the myriad of other features may make up for it, or perhaps if you're truly interested in solely gaming, you should look more closely at the [SyncMaster 172X]

Testing
More games! YES! This time around, I'm still playing tons of UT2k4, Counterstrike and NFS: Underground, as well as various other games. But that's not our only testing today. Not only do I get to play games...I get to watch TV and movies too! YES!

For gameplay, of course, with that 25ms response time you're going to have ghosting. And once again, I argue that after playing with it for a while it really just sort of erases itself from my brain. I don't notice it, maybe you will, regardless it's there.

Af for the other functions - the cable and HDTV stuff couldn't be easier to set up. The monitor automatically detects if there is a feed from the plugs, and only switches over to it then (when you ask it to, of course). The PIP features either wide-screen or standard format, allowing for the PIP viewing of widescreen format movies.

In full screen, you'll have to move a bit away from the monitor. Though I'm sure my cable is part of the problem, the picture itself is a bit grainy, but looks fine when viewing from a normal distance - ie: just a couple metres away in my recliner.

The stereo sound on the monitor isn't bad - equivalent to pretty much any stereo sound on a 19" TV - you can't exactly get the speakers too far apart, but it still is crisp and clear, and that works for me. I think it's actually a bit better than the 19" TV I do have, to tell you the truth.

The remote is a key part of this whole getup - without a comprehensive remote, the whole TV/Multifunction gig would have just gone to shambles. Fortunately for us, Samsung has created a brilliant control. Its got a power button, its got the numbers and 100+ and last channel recall. Mute, Volume, Channel all these things it has. But on TOP of that, it has buttons to flip through the sources you're using - so you can pause that full screen movie, check on something macroing perhaps if you play online games and flip back all from the comfort of your easy chair.

Even MORE - it has full control over the monitor menu!

Even MORE STILL! It has complete control over the TV/PIP device. I already mentioned the widescreen/standard function, but this has controls for basically freezing the frame (not the show) - but it's neat in movies, or commercials, as well as Stereo Mode (Custom, Movie, Music, Speech, Standard), MTS (allows switching from Stereo to Mono to SAP) as well as turn PIP on/off, controlling the source of the PIP (if you have TV and DVD plugged in, for example), the position of the PIP (at each 4 corners of the screen) and the all-important MagicBright hotkey.

All from a remote. I love you Samsung for making something I can actually USE!

Finally, the screen was also tested to make sure there we no dead pixels (using solid screens of colour) - and...none were present. Nice!

Conclusion

Though perhaps not a hardcore gamer's LCD, the SyncMaster 192MP was built for someone else in mind - the casual gamer, the constant computer user, and, I even suppose, the cramped student, or apartment dweller. Personally, my new room next year is going to be incredibly small - and though I have a Cable outler, I will not have room for a TV. Solution: Samsung SyncMaster 192MP. A TV screen for cable and DVDs, and a computer monitor all in one. I love it. I'm even watching Comedy Central while I write this article! If you're looking for something robust, versatile, (multi)funtional and just incredible well put together, then SyncMaster 192MP is a good choice for you. Once again, and its no surprise with the quality of Samsung's monitors, I'm giving the 192MP the OCC Recommended Award.